Small Business Email Help

[multilingual]

I could do with some advice about how to filter emails.

We run a network of computers from a single main computer with one internet connection. We currently have Eudora installed on all our computers and the software is very reliable and easy to work with. The trouble is, it will not allow multi-user filtering, which means that everyone working here gets everyone's emails. Proposals, quotes, job requests, documents, files, the lot... it all goes to every computer on site and this is causing problems as we grow because emails are now being missed.

To be blunt, it's a crap system and I should have sorted it ages ago.

I need some new email software that will filter the incoming mail and deliver it only to the computer set up to receive it. It needs to be straightforward to operate and bear in mind that we would need a 'single company, multiple user' type of licence.

I am sure that this is a no-brainer but I can't find anything suitable.

Thanks in advance.

JB

[DuaneJackson]

You're looking at it the wrong way. Don't replace the software on the PC's, replace the system.

Get a hosting package somewhere taht allows you multiple POP3 mailboxes on a single domain (most packages would allow this) then set up the PC's to just download directly from the POP3 accounts at your chosen ISP's server.

[multilingual]

Do you know of a reliable company that offers multiple POP3 mailboxes on a single account?

I need to buy a new domain anyway to act as a generic email address for all the different sites. I was thinking about buying the yahoo business package, simply because I use them for personal email and they are spot-on, where as my current business email providers are hopeless. The emails are often late, some don't come at all, and the help desks are next to useless.

I don't think Yahoo offers multiple POP3 boxes though.

:?

JB

[Rob Holmes]

Do you know of a reliable company that offers multiple POP3 mailboxes on a single account?

I need to buy a new domain anyway to act as a generic email address for all the different sites. I was thinking about buying the yahoo business package, simply because I use them for personal email and they are spot-on, where as my current business email providers are hopeless. The emails are often late, some don't come at all, and the help desks are next to useless.

I don't think Yahoo offers multiple POP3 boxes though.

:?

JB

JB - We can do this no problem.

We also run tighter spam systems than most

Feel free to PM me if you like - we can swap phone numbers.

Rob

[stagetec]

Personally I wouldn't have said that multiple POP3 mail boxes is the right solution if everyone is based in the same office building, although it might be part of the solution.

Might be better to install something like Microsoft Exchange where all the email is downloaded by one machine and then distributed by name to each persons machine. This makes it simpler to administrate and you can also easily run antivirus software and backup all emails.

Andy

[TWD-Tony]

Personally I wouldn't have said that multiple POP3 mail boxes is the right solution if everyone is based in the same office building, although it might be part of the solution.

Might be better to install something like Microsoft Exchange where all the email is downloaded by one machine and then distributed by name to each persons machine. This makes it simpler to administrate and you can also easily run antivirus software and backup all emails.

Andy

I have to agree - MS exchange is designed for this purpose, each user is given a username and password, they can log onto any machine on your network and retrieve just their own mails - you can also setup "out of the office" diversions between collegues. You can even setup a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and extend this email functionality out of the office (at people's homes, on laptops etc)

Other that that - web based POP accounts would do the job, not as many features though.

Most of the hosting companies on here can sort this out for you :D Anti-Virus and Anti-Spam scanning on the server is a good option but not always 100% needed.

Oh - then there's MS Outlook web edition :lol:

[DuaneJackson]

We use exchange, the reason I didn't reccomend it here is primarily cost but also because you do need some technical expertise to manage it. The features are great though. Especially Outlook Web Access.

I still stand by my inital suggestion of multiple POP3 boxes with Matrixx for simplicity and cost.

[Rob Holmes]

I still stand by my inital suggestion of multiple POP3 boxes with Matrixx for simplicity and cost.

We can also route everything into a single catchall after spam scanning for collection by a mailserver and local distrubution :)

Rob

[The_JinJ]

If money is an object then I agree with above, Exchange isn't the way to go - also requires a technical bod to maintain etc.
If you decided you did want to run your own system inhouse then you could look at some of the long established solutions - Pegasus and Mercury mail, free to use but not sure if they are still maintained. Again may require technical help to setup and maintain.

[Enigma121]

Multi,

We have experience with setting up dedicated email servers for your EXCLUSIVE use (if your traffic is that high).

If you'd like a quote, email sales@enigmaconnections.com (which sits on one such server), giving details of your circumstances, such as:

Number of users
Number of mailboxes
Approximate volume of email per month
Required client support (software with version).

[NS-Icon]

I would consider setting up your e-mail like some of our clients have done using our e-mail hosting services.

You can setup an e-mail hosting account which provides you with a master control panel; through here you can setup all company mailboxes, spam filtering, redirects and groups. Groups help a great deal when you want mail for a particular department to be sent to all or specific individuals, these can be setup on a per e-mail basis if required.

Clients also have the ability to access their own mailboxes to reset passwords and maintain their own e-mail account.

All accounts also come with a web-mail facility allowing remote viewing and sending of e-mail.

If you are interested in this type of setup which I feel would be perfect for your needs get in touch, ill be glad to help you out.